Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Kaichō wa Maid-sama!

Same friend that recommended me Pandora Heartsintroduced me to this new yet very beautiful mangaentitled Kaichō wa Maid-sama!.

Kaichō wa Maid-sama! is story of a working high school girl, Misaki Ayuzawa.She is attending the Seika High School. Now, Seika High Schoolused to be an all-boys school known for having wild and scary students.Misaki is the first female Student Union president at the said school.She only has one goal in mind: To create an environment, that those female studentswould want to enroll. This only means that she needs to wipe thosebad rumours about Seika High School and create a new Seika High thatall girls would feel safe and welcomed.

But because of her father's debt, she is now force to work asa part-time waitress in a restaurant. She balanced everything in her life.Very good grades, good leadership and a very hardworking waitressat her free.

Being a waitress is ok for her. But, things get messed up on her lifewhen Usui Takumi - a male student from her school discovered her work. Of course it won't besuch of a big deal, but having a reputation of being a 'strong girl" in their school,it is really a an issue that she is working as a part-time waitress and cosplayingas a maid! The reataurant she worked has actually a maid uniform.

Now, she is always on a 'battle mode" with Takumi. She is often pissed with him.Being a man-hater, she always treats boys like they did everything wrong.Takumi enjoys teasing her and making fun of her. Threatening her - that he will reveal this little secret, is his way of winning arguments with him.Misaki now should put up to all these things. But, as the days pass, she realizesthat her heart is softening because of Takumi.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

A few days ago, a friend recommended me about this new manga he’s reading. Usually, I don’t read mangas recommended by a friend because I want to discover new mangas myself. Out of the blue, I decided to check it out. Turns out, it didn’t disappoint me.Pandora Hearts. I didn’t ask for the plot first. So my first thought was it is about a box just like the Pandora’s Box story or something like that. The story actually revolves around Oz Vessalius, a boy who comes from a very rich family. In their society, there is a celebration called “coming-of-age” for all those children who are about to turn 15. In his coming-of-age celebration, Reapers appeared and sent him to the Abbys – a world from another dimension – without knowing why. When he was on the Abbys, he again met B-Rabbit. B-Rabbit is a chain – a monster created from Abbys – and is a really strong one. B-Rabbit’s true name is Alice. Alice wants to make a contract with Oz allowing both of them to get out of Abbys. Alice’s goal is to collect her memories that were gone since she was in the Abbys. Oz decided to form the contract and help her because he had a premonition that the answers to all his questions will appear if he help Alice. Now, exciting things will happen as they unravel Alice past nd their “alliance” with the secret organization called Pandora.

It is still an on going manga so I also don’t know what will happen next. But I have some guesses… It actually has an anime. Anyways, what I like about it is that it brings something new to the table, even though it is based on other books. Pandora Hearts is indeed very interesting. It is one of those mangas that makes me crave for “MORE!”. Honestly, I sometimes judge a manga by the way it is drawn and from what I read; it is definitely an “A” for me. I recommend this manga for all my readers here. I assure you, you will not be disappointed reading this. Pandora Hearts is definitely one of the must-read. Again, join us, on unravelling the mystery behind this story.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

I stumble upon this very interesting manga series last week in http://www.onemanga.com It is entitled Fly High. First things first, The Plot. Fly High is about a 12 year old girl named Meru Tachibana. She is really not a girl all her life. Confusing? Well, she is raised by her father since she was months old until she was 12 thinking that she is a boy! Her father is a skilled combater so he wants his “son” t be as skilled as him so he trains him to the mountain. Until Meru told him that she is classified as a girl in their Medical Check up in school so he returned her to her mother. Meru’s mother is so angry about this fact that her father suddenly “abducted” her when she was still a baby thinking that she is a boy. Now, Meru’s mother wants her to become a normal girl and wants her to restrain her supernatural strength she acquired. She must absolutely not show her true strength in people and must live as a young normal girl in her new school. However, she met this group of students who “rules” the entire school. Imposing fear on all of the student. At first she decided to play along the flow but when her best friend screwed by this group, she decided to battle it out with them…

When I first read the plot, I said, Ok, let’s give this a try. And it did not disappoint me. What I like about it is that it shows that even girls can kick butt! And the fact that she is striving hard for her friends to be free from this group’s “oppression”. Personally, I want to be someone like Meru, physically strong but still have a soft heart. The love story part in shown between her and Riku – a foreign student who is a super genius. Their story is still not that clear on the first chapters of the series but there are some parts that is really exciting. It is still an ongoing manga so I’m super excited on what’s gonna happen next. I recommend this manga especially to the girls and hope you enjoy reading it.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

In shojo manga world, one of the most famous series as of today is shugo chara! Shugo Chara is a story of the life of an elementary student, Hinamori Amu. She is known as a cool and distant girl in their school. The way she dress and act is like a cool girl as well. She is portrayed by many who comes from a good family and has a very prominent life that many see as a reflection of her style. In reality, Amu is actually a very shy girl who doesn’t know how to express her true feelings. She is often discomforted about what the people around her, especially in school, think of her. Until one night,after reflecting these issues on her real self, she sincerely prayed and wish from the bottom of her heart that she would have the courage to how her real self. Waking up in the morning, she saw three eggs in her room. After some time, the eggs hatched and came out three “Guardian Characters”. These Guardians will help Amu to become her real self as the time passes.But having three Guardian made a fuss on their world. She was first chase by Ikuto Tsukiyomi believing that her Guardians were the legendary Embryo that is believed to grant any wish for anyone who possesses it. She was then ‘hired’ by the student council on their school who actually have their own Guardians which the students doesn’t know. She was placed as a “Joker” together with the King, Queen, Jack, and Ace of the student council. She as a very special task that only she can do among the other members which is to heal all X Eggs with X Guardians. These are the Guardians of other children that was infected by their negative feelings.

With her Guardians, she can actually transform to these Characters. Ran is her first hatched egg – the one with pink-colored shell and Amu becomes Amulet Heart during the transformation. Ran represents her longing to be honest, confident, and athletic. Ran has a very energetic personality and oftens cheers Amu together with her pom-poms. Her second Guardian to hatch is Miki – the one with blue-colored shell and Amu becomes Amulet Spade during the transformation. Miki symbolizes Amu’s wish to become more level headed, sharp, and artistic. Her third Guardian to hatch is Su – the one with green-colored shell and Amu becomes Amulet Clover during the transformation. Su represents Amu’s desire to be more caring, sensitive, and develop her household skills. Later on in the series it was revealed that she created a 4th Guradian Character called Dia. Dia represents Amu’s yearning to shine and to be noticed by ither people. Together, they become Amulet Diamond during the transformation.

Shugo Chara! for me is like a counter part of Card Captor Sakura. It portrays the struggle of every child in the modern world and is a very good story for children. If you have a child, I suggest you let your child read this manga or watch its anime. It truly is a manga for children. Good characters as well as the bad one are portrayed in the series and is a good eye opener for children. If you are a child, I suggest you read this manga. And if you are an adult, well, it wouldn’t be so bad to go back to our childhood times right?

Saturday, August 8, 2009

One of the most famous, most action-pack, hottest, and one of the greatest manga and as well as anime today is Naruto. Naruto is neck-to-neck with Bleach in terms of popularity and reigning king of shonen manga series in the manga world. Naruto, as the title suggest is the protagonist of the story. In the beginning of the story, Naruto is a student of a Ninja Academy in there town called Konohagakure. His ultimate dream is to become the next Hokage of their town. A Hokage is the leader of the said town, and of course a very good and on of the best ninjas on all town. At his training of becoming a ninja,he befriends his teammates Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. Naruto is portrayed as a lively young boy that is quite dumb and always gets into trouble. Later on, it was revealed that he actually conceals a very powerful nine-tailed demon fox on his body. This is the reason why naruto has a such a powerful shakra on him. He considers Sasuke as his rival because Sasuke is a genius student ninja and has a promising future than Naruto. But later on, thing begun to go upside down.This manga series is still on going. I won’t go into the juicy stuff of this series because it would be much of a spoiler. I want to introduce this manga because I consider this as one of Manga World’s pride. It really has an amazing plot and keeps the excitement alive. I for one am a fan of this series. If I were to choose between Bleach and Naruto, no doubt, I would choose Naruto. No offense for the Bleach fans but Naruto for me is much more… exhilarating! I highly and absolutely recommend this manga for anyone who is planning to read a new manga. And for any of you who is also reading this, well, “appear!”. :)*For online manga, links are located on the left side of this blog*

Monday, July 27, 2009

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at 4:00 pm on this day, July 27, 2009 has given her State of the Nation Address in joint session lead by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and was attended by 270 members of House of Representatives. What is SONA? It is a short term for State of the Nation Address, a speech given by the president of the Philippines about the achievements and things do in the future by the president for the country and its people.

This is the 9th time and the last time President Arroyo had her speech. Meaning, this is also the ninth time that the people have heard and seen her in the congress stating “things”. Ok, So, how many years it is since she became the head of this country? Since her first SONA last 2001? How many times did she promised that Filipino people shall experience better lives on this country? Ninth time it is.

After so many years under the Arroyo administration, Philippines is still the same, maybe, even worse. After she got the position from former President Estrada through People Power, she promised a better life for the Filipino people but still, nothing happened. After numerous controversies, the “Hello Garci” Scandal and the ZTE deal and so on, she still reigns. Well, she deserves a pat in the pack for surviving.

Now, she discussed at her last SONA, “At the end of this speech I shall step down from this stage…but not from the Presidency. There is much to do as head of state–to the very last day... I did not become President to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our people that is why I became President” She was threatened by the anti-Arroyo government groups of another People Power for her to step down but she never did. She is still standing tall (not literally). She became a President to lead and to protect. What does a leader mean for her? What does protection mean to her? Does she mean countless people who are homeless? Does she mean numerous people that are suffering from poverty? Does she mean unsolved crimes and injustices? Come on.

So, what did she boasted this time around? Well, President Arroyo said that, in her term, the Philippine economy saw an exceptional average growth rate, multiple increases in investments, biggest job creation in history, and lowest overall debt as a ratio of the domestic economy. Ok, so, here she is again with her biggest job creation. Why then, that many Filipinos still work abroad? OFW says that they see bigger opportunities outside and a bigger chance of improving their lifestyle. How about in our country then? Does the BIGGEST JOB CREATION IN HISTORY enough for the Filipino people? Clearly, NO. She often brag about the boost on the country’s economy but people are still suffering. President Gloria had a promised a better life for the Filipino people but Filipinos just cannot see and feel that their lives are getting any better.

So where does it all lead us then? A few months from now, she is supposed to step down from her position and let somebody else lead. Where is the better life for Filipino people? Is there still a hope that President Arroyo can get us there? Because for me, I can’t see any hope for her. SONA or none, the problems are still there, countless of them. Right now, I just can’t see the purpose of this speech because when it really comes down to it, they are just words.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

In this entry, I will introduce a manga that is categorized as action, adventure, comedy, and shōnen. If you are wondering what is shōnen, well it is a Japanese word which means generally means a boy aroud elementary through junior high school age. This manga is one the most famous on both anime and manga world today. Well, this manga is none other than Bleach. It is most popular to the boys. It’s a story about Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo is a typical boy which has a very distinct ability. He is able to see shinigamis and hollows. One night, a shinigami named Kuchiki Rukia appeared in Ichigo’s bedroom fighting a hollow. Rukia was heavily wounded with the fight on that hollow and lend half of her powers to Ichigo so he can fight the hollow, but Ichigo accidentally absorbed all of her powers and defeated the hollow. The next day Rukia entered Ichigo’s school and explained that she is stranded in human world until she recovers her full power.For the time being Ichigo lets Rukia in his house and taking her job as a shinigami, battling hollows and leading lost souls on the afterlife kingdom, Soul Society. Continuing this kind of arrangement, Rukia's shinigami superiors discovered about her giving her powers to Ichigo that is against their laws. The superiors sent a group to arrest her punish her with death. Ichigo then saves her together with his friends, Inoue Orihime, Sado Yasutora, and the quincy, Ishida Uryu and ex-shinigami Captain Urahara Kisuke. They went to Soul Society, battled many shinigamis and are able to stop Rukia’s execution. It is then exposed that Rukia's execution and Ichigo's rescue attempt were both controlled by a captain named Aizen Sosuke. Aizen betrays his fellow Shinigamis and allies himself with the hollows, becoming the main antagonist of the story, and Ichigo teams up with his previous enemies in Soul Society after realizing that the next step in Aizen's plan involves the annihilation of his hometown. At this time, Bleach is about the conflict between Aizen and the Soul Society.Bleach has an interesting story and a very action packed manga. It has an excellent plot and is very exciting in every episode. Even though is a little, (just a little) brutal, I still like it. What’s a battle without deaths? Hehe. It is an action packed series that will surely make you want for more. I especially recommend this for boys because it doesn’t contain much of the cheesy stuffs. My brother actually likes Bleach.So for me, Bleach is rated: “thumbs up!”

Friday, July 10, 2009

Haruhi Fujioka is a scholar student at the prominent Ouran Academy. As she is looking for a silent place to study, Haruhi ended up on the Third Music Room, a place where the Ouran Academy Host Club, a group of six absolutely gorgeous male students, gathers to amuse both males and females "clients". During their primary meeting, Haruhi unintentionally knocks over and breaks an antique vase valued at 8,000,000 yen and she is told to pay off the cost in service to the club. Haruhi's short hair, slump attire and gender-ambiguous look causes her to be misguided by the hosts for a male student at first. in due course she made the agreement of joining the Club as a host herself (dressed as a male) in order to pay her debt. For the most part, students come from rich families but, in special cases, merit scholarships are granted to outstanding students from a lower income group. The school's unofficial motto is "Lineage counts first, wealth a close second," meaning students with amazing family backgrounds are given top priority over those from rich families but low social status.

I also love this story because I was really laughing the whole time! I just can’t help but laugh on the way the scenes were delivered! Hahahaha! I enjoyed reading this manga and I hope those who haven’t read this will enjoy too. It is still a romantic manga with lots of comedy in it. It is definitely not a tragedy story and is suitable for all ages!For me, Ouran High School Host Club is rated: “thumbs up! ; smiley”

Another shoujo manga that I like is Beauty Pop. Kiri Koshiba is the female protagonist of the story. She is a very talented stylist and is the daughter of very famous hair stylists. Her father is known on his time because of his ability to cut hairs in the shortest time. Her mother is a very famous stylist in Hollywood. Although she knows that she is good, she does not show it to people. She often help girls that have problems with self-esteem and help them have a better look. She always acts like she don’t care and she just want to be left alone but she still have friends on her side. In the school she went to, she met the SP(Scissors Project) Team, a group of three boys at school, gives luxurious makeovers to already-beautiful specially selected girls. Shogo Narumi, the head of the group and a hairstyling genius in his own right, finds himself butting heads with Kiri. To make things more complicated, Ochiai, another member of SP, plots to expose Kiri's talents. As much as Kiri tried to stay away from attention , she found herself being drag on the hairstyling world.

Kiri Koshiba is a really humble character. That is what I so much like about her. She know that she knows something yet she doesn’t brag it. Instead, she makes ways to help others rather than just showing off what she can do. It doesn’t really focuses on the love story but her journey through the hairstyling world. I am so fond of her character because I would rather have that same outlook in life.

Since Twilight saga is very popular nowadays, I would like to introduce another vampire story on a very different scale from Twilight called Vampire Knight. As the title suggests, it is about vampires and the struggle of Yuki Cross, Kuran Kaname, and Zero Kiryu. Yuki is the adopted daughter of Kaien Cross, Headmaster of the Cross Academy. She attends the day class together with Zero. Yuki and Zero is the prefect of the said school and have the purpose of creating a world that a vampire and human could coexist. Kaname attends the night class of the same academy. He is a pure blood vampire which is the ruling class of the vampire world and an extremely rare vampire in their world. He and his ‘friends’ is the vampire which also believes that vampires could coexist with humans. Zero is slowly becoming a Level E vampire, a vampire bitten by a pure blood which is the lowest kind of vampire in the vampire world. He hates this so much that he wanted to kill himself but Yuki helped him to control the bloodlust. in due course, it is exposed that Yuki is a pureblood vampire herself, the sister and fiancee of Kaname. To save Yuki from being killed by Kuran Rido, Kaname's uncle, her mother had conserved her memories shortly before her own death. After Yuki remembered everything, Rido again tries to kill her. While Kaname kills the vampire senate, Yuki fought Rido. During a fierce battle, Zero aids her in killing him, but then turns his gun on her, saying he will kill all of the pureblood vampires.

Vampire Knight is a romance, mystery and a tragedy type of story. It has a nice story that conveys another version of a vampire world. Much different from what Stephanie Meyer had imagined, but still has a nice plot. Story aside, I really like the design of their uniform. It has a certain charm and a really nice colors. I also like the fact that Yuki is a vampire. I thought that she is a helpless human until the end, but turns out, she is quite powerful herself. I just don’t like the idea of Yuki and Kaname, biological siblings, is engaged. Aside from that, I still think the story is good.

One of my favourite manga characters are Sakura and Syaoran. Their first appearance wa in Card Captor Sakura. I remember when I was still in Grade school, I often watch the anime series of it on TV. Now, they are back with a new series. It is entitled Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. It is still an ongoing manga by Clamp. The characters that appeared on the story were a character on other series of Clamp like Sakura and Syaoran themselves. Many of it is from Card Captor Sakura. Characters aside, the story is so so so amazing. Sakura and Syaoran here have a mature role and is under a more complicated situation. Here is the overview:

Sakura is a princess of the kingdom Clow. I the beginning of the story, Syaoran was introduced as the childhood friend of Sakura. His father is an archaeologist and is often at his father’s side. Sakura had a seen of a strange symbol Syaoran found in the ruins of the Clow kingdom. When she visits Syaoran in the ruins the next day, she stands on the symbol opening a secret room and disappears into it. Syaoran run after her and finds her with a pair of ghostly wings being pulled into the wall. He tried to save him but the wings began to fall to bits scattering in every different dimensions. Yukito, high priest of the country realized that the wings were actually Sakura’s materialization of her soul and with out it, Sakura will die. Yukito sent them to the dimensional witch.They made a wish to the witch that can grant every person’s wish in return for something that is equal to the wish. Syaoran made an agreement to the witch that in exchange for travelling through different dimensions, even though Sakura will gain a feather, she will not regain a single memory of him. That night, he met Kurogane, very strong and skilful swordsman and Fay, a very powerful magician. Together, they travelled thought different dimensions in search for Sakura’s feather.

Actually, the plot indicated above is not actually the real root of the story. It is just a itsy bitsy information about the whole story. This manga was categorized by One Manga as an action-adventure, fantasy, shounen, and a tragedy type of story. There is still a love story but it was not the only focus of the story.

At first, I thought the plot above is all there is to it to the story, but in truth, there is more, much more to it. I was really shocked as I the story progresses. So much more twists that I didn’t expect. That is actually one of the great sides of this story; it has a lot of surprises. It has so many stories in just one series. Every character has it’s own goals and wishes which made the story more complicated than it already is. This is actually one of my favourite manga. Hehe. I super super recommend anyone to read this manga.For me, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles is rated: “double thumbs up!”

Ok, so I really love shojo manga. I’m a girl! I think that is normal. Hehehe. So, Love Monster like I said is another shojo manga I have read which a supernatural love story. Hiyoko Osora is the female protagonist of the story. She failed all the entrance exam of the schools of her choice. After that, she received a strange acceptance letter from SM Academy. What she did not know is that, the school is actually a school for monsters!In the academy, she met a monster Tenmo Kouro, head of the school’s student union and a monster crow. He has a jet black wings which he is so proud of. To make her new life more complicated, Tenmo announced to all that they were engaged! As she stays longer at the school, she actually met nice friends and became accustomed to the life there. Although she always gets in a lot of trouble because of her ties with Tenmo, she fell in love with Tenmo as time passes. She is actually a popular target of boys in their school because of cuteness and the rareness of the female population at the said school. As if a monster school is not enough, she then discovered that she is actually a monster herself! She is the legendary White Crow who is extremely rare. The white crow has an incredible amount of power and is said that a white crow’s feather can grant wishes. Because of this, her life became more and more complicated because she was targeted by many monsters. Many more complications were developed that has more revelations and shocking truth at the end of the story.

I won’t write in here the twists that the manga has because I want YOU to read yourself. It is also a nice manga which got me addicted for more. Some scenes on this manga is actually a liitle (just a little) aggressive. Aside that, it is still is a lovely manga that will surely make girls scream.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

One of the shortest manga that I have read is Beast Master by Kyousuke Motomi. It was published in Japan by Shogakukan and only has 7 chapters. I have also read this one on One Manga.

Kubozuka Yuiko is the girl on the story, a second year high school and no boyfriend and she absolutely loves animals. One night, after chasing a cat, she saw a really scary guy holding the cat. The day after, she met that really scary guy, which happens to be her new classmate. His name is Aio Leo. Anyone who sees him will really be scared because he looks like a killer. He is not ugly but his face looks like he’s about to kill anyone near him. But, Yuiko is not scared of him and really wants to know him. Leo is loved by animals...absolutely adored by the animals. Animals get close to him and Yuiko is so envious because she love animals too but the animals don’t love him. She is the only one who got closed to Leo which made her look like a Beast Tamer to people.

*Spoiler Alert!*

Leo has an animal like instinct which he learned from living in Africa. Whenever he see blood, he becomes a beast-like creature who forgets whatever he does during that state. Only Yuiko was able to get close to him and “tame” him. She can stop him whenever he becomes deadly. They have the opposite ability of each other. Leo is loved by animals but people is scared of him while Yuiko is liked by humans but the animals are scared of her. In reality, Leo is ignorant and naive. He does not know much about the world and Yuiko was the one to discover it. She slowly introduced him to around people and eventually, he was accepted by many. But still, no one could get closed...

What I like about Beast Master? Don’t you think it’s just so wonderful that a girl can tame a beast-like guy? Hahahaha! For me, it’s amazing! I like the idea of putting such a pleasant plot. It’s very cute and weird. Hehehe. It sounds a little off the way I describe the story but this is how I see it. To put it all, I am just fond of the story. It makes me smile whenever Yuiko “tames” Leo. It really is a good, must-read piece of work! Hehehe.

Absolute Boyfriend or Zettai Kareshi is another romance manga I have read. I don’t have the published copy of it but I have read it on One Manga. I have already finished reading this and it is so fantastic. The story revolves around Riiko Izawa and Night. Riiko is the NBSB type (No Boyfriend Since Birth) and was always rejected by the guy she had feelings for. She was able to meet Gaku Namikiri who works for Kronos Heaven. After visiting the company’s website and filling up some information about a guy she would like, she received a big package containing something that would change her life forever.

*Spoilers Alert!*The package contains a guy robot which she later named Night. The robot was designed to meet her qualifications she gave to the company. But she owed the company 100,000,000 yen after the three day trial which she never knew until she was told by Gaku. Problematic, she devised many ways to pay the amount with Night’s help. Though a human is in love with her, she still chose Night. As the story progresses she fell in love with him. And then, Soshi Asamoto her childhood friend confessed his love for Riiko. At the end of the story, Night begins to exceed his abilities which resulted to his body to stop working. He left memories that Riiko will remember as long as she live.

I was literally crying at the end of the story. When Riiko found out that Night was “dead” I felt like Night is a real man through the things he did for Riiko. He exceeded the program that was on his system and did things that were very human like. Night even left a letter for Soshi to take care of her when he is gone. At the last page, Riiko said these words: “Even though you’re not by my side, Night, you will forever be my first man.. My Zettai Kareshi.” That line was both painful yet an acceptance of what happened. Letting go and looking forward to the future. Riiko realized that Night will always be alive in her memory and will always be her first.

The story shows that first love are forever be remembered especially for a girl like Riiko. Night was her first boyfriend although he is not human. Many may think that falling in love with a robot is just ridiculous. I thought that too, when I first read the first 5 chapters of the manga, but I just can’t see myself not falling in love for someone like Night. Yes, he is a not a human but he acts just like a human which he knew that will lead him to death. He chose to be a real lover for Riiko. How can a girl not see this? I bet girls would love someone who will make such a sacrifice for a girl he loves. This is also a story of letting go. Of accepting that things may or will not come back to the way it was whatever one might do. Riiko could not do anything for Night to wake up. Even if she please the company to fix Night, he will never wake up again.

Monday, July 6, 2009

I have read the latest Skip Beat! Volume 23 Chapter 142 entitled Valentine’s Joker on Manga Fox. But first, let me explain what the story is all about.

The story revolves around a girl named Kyoko Mogami who is so in love with her childhood friend Shotarou Fuwa. She have done almost everything just to please him. When Sho entered for music show business, she then overheard him saying to his manager that she is just garbage for him. After this, she then promised revenge on him by surpassing him in show business. She managed to enter on a very elite talent agency in Japan which she entered as the first member of a department called “Love Me”. The agency’s President Takarada saw the great potential on her but she lacks Love due to her heartbreaking experience with Shotarou. There, she met Ren Tsuruga, a very famous and handsome actor in the country which Shotarou considers as her number 1 rival. She developed a deep realationship with him in the story. Eventually she discovered herself as she takes on many roles.

Skip Beat! is another comedy-romance manga. What I really like about the story is the girl itself. She is so much more than just a caretaker of Shotarou yet she doesn’t even realize it. She is a great girl with a really evil and really good heart. haha. Maybe it sounds a little complicated but that is what makes the story more exciting. With, her complex personally and hidden acting talents and skills, she managed to awe every people she work with, especially Ren.

On the latest chapter, she is so pissed because she ought to give a Valentines chocolate for Sho because the latter blackmailed her. Sho actually realized that he is in love with her. Ren too, is in love with her! hahahaha! very love triangle. She didn’t gave Ren a chocolate because she thought that it is not important to him, yet she is so wrong which he then happened to see that Kyoko made a chocolate for Sho. At the end of the chapter, Sho mistakenly thought that she is so in love with Ren that she wanted so badly to give chocolates for valentines.

Ren is really the male protagonist of the story. I like him better than Sho, hahaha! He acts cool on the outside yet he really is not. He often hide his true feelings by smiling yet Kyoko can see right trough it.

What happens to this Valentines Day roller coaster? Well, I’m as cluless, but I am so excited for this one. Hahahaha!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Last week, I have read GAKUEN ALICE Volume 19 Chapter 115 entitled: “Rei’s Out”. Gakuen Alice is one of my favourite manga. It is about a school for gifted children, REALLY gifted, they have powers called Alice. The story revolves around Sakura Mikan as the protagonist of the story. Surrounded by friends, she learns how to control and discover her alices. The latest scanlations by Manga Fox on Gakuen Alice is about Sakura Mikan’s parents. In the latest chapters, she discovered that her father was actually a former teacher on the Alice Academy and her mother was a former student on the said academy.

Note: Spoilers on next paragraph.

Her parents were considered by the school as ‘rebels’ because they contradict the school. Her father has a nullification alice and her mother has both teleportation and the powerful stealing alice. Mikan inherited both her parents alice. She is now the target of the elementary school principal because of her very powerful alice. The elementary school parents a very greedy man. He loves to obtain powers on his hands that is why he sorrounds himself with powerful students known as the Dangerous Ability type. He wanted Mikan so badly that he created so many ways to get her. With Mikan’s friends, she escaped on the elementary school principal’s hands. At the latest chapter, she is still time travelling to know the truth about her parents past and will decide what to do after she see these all. Here is the link for Manga fox Gakuen Alice. http://www.mangafox.com/manga/gakuen_alice/

I really like Mikan’s alice. For me, her alice is the most powerful alice on the story. And I love the story between her and Natsume. Although they are still too young for romantic feelings, it still is so wonderful. Natsume is perfect for her. Natsume has a fire alice so he is capable of protecting her. Her friends are also true ones especially her best friend Hotaru who has a technical alice. She can invent amazing gadgets, robots, and the like. I’m guessing that Mikan will leave the academy. After what she saw on her time travel, I’m guessing that she will do whatever she can to protect the others, especially her friends because that is her personality. Although I don’t know what will happen after that, I’m hoping for a better story. I am very excited on the next chapters. :)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Japan is one of the most successful countries in Asia today. Its culture and influence is well known to the whole world. One of the things which Japan is proudly made of is Manga. Manga is a comic book consists of printed cartoons. Manga is read by everyone in Japan. Its popularity in the country is so intense that it has become a foremost part of the Japanese publishing industry. Today, manga is also popular world wide, selling millions of copies in United States and Europe.

Manga covers all genres: romance, music, horror, sci-fi, comedy and more. Manga can also be read online today. Many sites are popping out in the internet offering manga scans. Manga is also controversial. Due to its content.. many criticisms have been made. Some countries are concern that Japan is promoting false notion in people’s mind about their country and culture, emphasizing Japan’s way of thinking. Many parents are also concern that their children are exposed to pornographic and gore images.

But for me, manga is an excellent piece of art. Manga has indeed a wide variety of stories which are not suitable for all ages. But that what it makes it the more beautiful. It has a lot of different kinds of stories to show. I really think it depends on the reader how he or she will interpret the things he/she reads or saw. Like me, I have read a lot of stories, from romance (that includes… you know…), horror, fantasy, gore (that includes violent killings), and even the ridiculous concept of super heroes, but, it didn’t have such great impacts in my life. Sure, it still does, but I tend to have a different view towards these kinds of things. If one only sees what’s on the surface, one cannot appreciate the real beauty of it. Such incredible piece of art, such beauty and creativity that it contains… Manga is a really really great art once you come to read and understand it. It presents so much more stories and theories to life.

Japan manga today, continues to evolve. So many new writers, animators and publishers are coming out. They provide new ideas on the table. They are the ones who create worlds that make the readers awe every time they read it. Manga has been an enormous collection of chronicles and still getting more and more gigantic. The future is not certain, as many say. But today onwards, I sure hope for a better understanding of manga and the world it creates.